Bicycling Magazine

[joekhul]

Is it me or has Bicycling magazine gotten a little better in the past
couple of years? I tried it some years ago, but it appeared to me that
it was a flashy magazine designed for extreme(!) young guys and I
found no value in it and didn't miss it one iota. But in the last
couple of years I've been getting it whether I want it or not because
I send money to some bicycling organization (there's a couple I donate
to -- it might be Cyclist.org...I don't know); and I see now there's
some useful articles in each issue or at least in their sidebars; and
now I find I do enjoy some of the articles.

I don't know -- what do you all think?

[Kenneth]

On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:54:38 -0700 (PDT), joekhul
<joekhul@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Is it me or has Bicycling magazine gotten a little better in the past
>couple of years? I tried it some years ago, but it appeared to me that
>it was a flashy magazine designed for extreme(!) young guys and I
>found no value in it and didn't miss it one iota. But in the last
>couple of years I've been getting it whether I want it or not because
>I send money to some bicycling organization (there's a couple I donate
>to -- it might be Cyclist.org...I don't know); and I see now there's
>some useful articles in each issue or at least in their sidebars; and
>now I find I do enjoy some of the articles.
>
>I don't know -- what do you all think?

Howdy,

Is there any chance you are becoming an extreme(!) young
guy...?

All the best,
--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

[ZBicyclist]

joekhul wrote:
> Is it me or has Bicycling magazine gotten a little better in the
> past
> couple of years? I tried it some years ago, but it appeared to me
> that
> it was a flashy magazine designed for extreme(!) young guys and I
> found no value in it and didn't miss it one iota. But in the last
> couple of years I've been getting it whether I want it or not
> because
> I send money to some bicycling organization (there's a couple I
> donate
> to -- it might be Cyclist.org...I don't know); and I see now
> there's
> some useful articles in each issue or at least in their sidebars;
> and
> now I find I do enjoy some of the articles.
>
> I don't know -- what do you all think?

They are using more than one paragraph articles again. It's still
not great, but it is a big improvement. I got a "free" subscription
a few months ago and actually renewed it.

--
Mike Kruger
"You have to be careful if you are reckless." - Richard M. Daley

[joekhul]

On Apr 24, 8:54*pm, joekhul <joek...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Is it me or has Bicycling magazine gotten a little better in the past
> couple of years? I tried it some years ago, but it appeared to me that
> it was a flashy magazine designed for extreme(!) young guys and I
> found no value in it and didn't miss it one iota. But in the last
> couple of years I've been getting it whether I want it or not because
> I send money to some bicycling organization (there's a couple I donate
> to -- it might be Cyclist.org...I don't know); and I see now there's
> some useful articles in each issue or at least in their sidebars; and
> now I find I do enjoy some of the articles.
>
> I don't know -- what do you all think?

And to give proper credit:

The folks I sent the money to is: League of American Bicyclists. They
can be found at www.bikeleague.org

You become a member with them and you get subscribed to Bicycle
magazine, plus you get a quarterly publication of American Bicyclist.

[frkrygow@gmail.com]

On Apr 24, 8:54 pm, joekhul <joek...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Is it me or has Bicycling magazine gotten a little better in the past
> couple of years?

Well, it's a matter of taste, I'm sure. IMO, it's better largely
because there wasn't much way for it to get worse.

They've had a few interesting articles lately. But the emphasis is
still 90% on "Shave 0.002% off your next time trial!!!" or "Use these
exercises to get sexy legs!!!!!" or "THIS is the piece of expensive
equipment you've GOT to buy!!!!!"

Page 136 of the current issue has "5 THINGS TO MAKE YOU
FASTER" (Emphasis theirs). Total cost? Well over $2500. That's
for a wheelset, $80 worth of semi-edible goo, $360 worth of clothes
(to make you faster!!!), a fancy speedometer, and - wait for it -
ceramic bearings.

Oh yes - last month they called some movie star a "wheelsucker"
because he was seen riding without a (gasp!) helmet.

As it happens, I've got four different cycling magazined piled next to
my recliner right now: Bicycle Quarterly, Rivendell Reader, American
Cyclist (that's LAB's rag), and Buycycling. I find the first two to
be roughly 30 times more interesting than the last two.

Briefly, the style of cycling they currently promote has never, ever
appealed to me. But, as always, YMMV.

- Frank Krygowski

[bigjimpack@gmail.com]

Bicycling is FAR better than bike magazine. Nothing but slackers
coasting downhill.


On Apr 24, 8:54*pm, joekhul <joek...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Is it me or has Bicycling magazine gotten a little better in the past
> couple of years? I tried it some years ago, but it appeared to me that
> it was a flashy magazine designed for extreme(!) young guys and I
> found no value in it and didn't miss it one iota. But in the last
> couple of years I've been getting it whether I want it or not because
> I send money to some bicycling organization (there's a couple I donate
> to -- it might be Cyclist.org...I don't know); and I see now there's
> some useful articles in each issue or at least in their sidebars; and
> now I find I do enjoy some of the articles.
>
> I don't know -- what do you all think?

[victor.kan@gmail.com]

On Apr 24, 8:54 pm, joekhul <joek...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Is it me or has Bicycling magazine gotten a little better in the past
> couple of years? ...
>
> I don't know -- what do you all think?

I'd agree, at least with respect to their articles not geared toward
riding faster in N steps, or "value" bikes that cost $3000+ (not quite
as bad as Road Bike Action magazine's reviews that read more like a
buzz word dictionary), etc.. I don't subscribe to Bicycling, but read
it sometimes at the library.

I've enjoyed reading about their Africa Bike project, interviews with
cyclists (I think they had an interview with Saul Raisin just before
his life threatening crash and then later did a follow up article on
how he's getting on with life now), Team Major Taylor, stuff like
that.

[catzz66]

joekhul wrote:
> Is it me or has Bicycling magazine gotten a little better in the past
> couple of years? I tried it some years ago, but it appeared to me that
> it was a flashy magazine designed for extreme(!) young guys and I
> found no value in it and didn't miss it one iota. But in the last
> couple of years I've been getting it whether I want it or not because
> I send money to some bicycling organization (there's a couple I donate
> to -- it might be Cyclist.org...I don't know); and I see now there's
> some useful articles in each issue or at least in their sidebars; and
> now I find I do enjoy some of the articles.
>
> I don't know -- what do you all think?

I subscribe and pass it on to my family to read, but don't rely on it to
learn anything deep about bikes, only to keep up with what's current. I
have not really ever found a monthly bike magazine that interests me all
that much. I'd rather be out riding.

[Matt O'Toole]

On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:54:38 -0700, joekhul wrote:

> Is it me or has Bicycling magazine gotten a little better in the past
> couple of years? I tried it some years ago, but it appeared to me that
> it was a flashy magazine designed for extreme(!) young guys and I found
> no value in it and didn't miss it one iota. But in the last couple of
> years I've been getting it whether I want it or not because I send money
> to some bicycling organization (there's a couple I donate to -- it might
> be Cyclist.org...I don't know); and I see now there's some useful
> articles in each issue or at least in their sidebars; and now I find I
> do enjoy some of the articles.
>
> I don't know -- what do you all think?

It's improved but it's still a shadow of what it could be.

Bicycling.com has a lot of traffic even though it sucks, and I mean really
sucks, which is a testament to the power of branding and branding. Too bad
Rodale are such poor stewards of that -- they're leaving a lot of money on
the table.

Matt O.

[joekhul]

On Apr 24, 8:54*pm, joekhul <joek...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Is it me or has Bicycling magazine gotten a little better in the past
> couple of years? I tried it some years ago, but it appeared to me that
> it was a flashy magazine designed for extreme(!) young guys and I
> found no value in it and didn't miss it one iota. But in the last
> couple of years I've been getting it whether I want it or not because
> I send money to some bicycling organization (there's a couple I donate
> to -- it might be Cyclist.org...I don't know); and I see now there's
> some useful articles in each issue or at least in their sidebars; and
> now I find I do enjoy some of the articles.
>
> I don't know -- what do you all think?

Yeah, well, I generally agree with most of the responses here. I too
quickly peruse Bicycling and then flip it in the employee magzine rack
at work. (Where my current issue is now). As for pg. 136 of the
current issue (5 Things To Make You Faster), I don't even see those
type of write-ups -- it goes past over me like commercials on TV.
(Though I read it this time because it was mentioned here). I did
though enjoy the blurb about Lance Armstrong opening up that super-
bike shop in Austin.

And as for the actor and his wife/girlfriend bicycling and being noted
in the last issue; I too had to shake my head when all Bicycling
mentioned was his name and that they weren't wearing helmets. I
thought -- "That's all they could come up with?!"

The other group I belong to is Adventure Cycling. They've got a pretty
good magazine and have well written articles that are enjoyable and
worth reading. I wish though that a lot of these groups would simply
place their subscriptions online and you download them as pdf files.
This way you don't need a hardcopy and you can save one or two years
worth of magazines on one CD disk. (And of course they'd be very
portable this way).

[Jym Dyer]

=v= They mentioned one of the best rides my group does!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jym/2454772800/

<_Jym_>

[joekhul]

On Apr 24, 9:15*pm, Kenneth <use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote:
> On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:54:38 -0700 (PDT), joekhul
>
> <joek...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >Is it me or has Bicycling magazine gotten a little better in the past
> >couple of years? I tried it some years ago, but it appeared to me that
> >it was a flashy magazine designed for extreme(!) young guys and I
> >found no value in it and didn't miss it one iota. But in the last
> >couple of years I've been getting it whether I want it or not because
> >I send money to some bicycling organization (there's a couple I donate
> >to -- it might be Cyclist.org...I don't know); and I see now there's
> >some useful articles in each issue or at least in their sidebars; and
> >now I find I do enjoy some of the articles.
>
> >I don't know -- what do you all think?
>
> Howdy,
>
> Is there any chance you are becoming an extreme(!) young
> guy...?
>
> All the best,
> --
> Kenneth
>
> If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

Ha! No, not hardly....I'm getting better(!)

[Zoot Katz]

On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:22:21 -0500, "ZBicyclist"
<ZBicyclist@excite.com> wrote:

>joekhul wrote:
>> Is it me or has Bicycling magazine gotten a little better in the
>> past
>> couple of years? I tried it some years ago, but it appeared to me
>> that
>> it was a flashy magazine designed for extreme(!) young guys and I
>> found no value in it and didn't miss it one iota. But in the last
>> couple of years I've been getting it whether I want it or not
>> because
>> I send money to some bicycling organization (there's a couple I
>> donate
>> to -- it might be Cyclist.org...I don't know); and I see now
>> there's
>> some useful articles in each issue or at least in their sidebars;
>> and
>> now I find I do enjoy some of the articles.
>>
>> I don't know -- what do you all think?
>
>They are using more than one paragraph articles again. It's still
>not great, but it is a big improvement. I got a "free" subscription
>a few months ago and actually renewed it.

I browsed a Bicycling Magazine publication in the used book store
just today. There were step-by-step photographs and instructions for
repairing tubular tires. It was a repair manual from ~1990. I'm
guessing because I didn't look at the copyright or printing history

Also had wheel lacing and truing photos IIRC. It didn't interest me
because it didn't contain any information I don't already have or
could access more easily online.
A quaint item not worth eight bux to me.

The latest issues of the magazine are across the street in the
library. I'll have to start looking at them again. Maybe even find it
worth checking out.
--
zk

[Jym Dyer]

> I browsed a Bicycling Magazine publication in the used book
> store just today. There were step-by-step photographs and
> instructions for repairing tubular tires. It was a repair
> manual from ~1990. I'm guessing because I didn't look at
> the copyright or printing history

=v= Yeah, they've published some nice repair books with lots
of helpful photos. I learned a lot from them -- everything but
truing wheels, which I learned from a community bikes zine.

=v= Having lots of photos is a good approach.
<_Jym_>

[Veloise]

joekhul wrote:
....

> The folks I sent the money to is: League of American Bicyclists. They
> can be found at www.bikeleague.org

> You become a member with them and you get subscribed to Bicycle
> magazine, plus you get a quarterly publication of American Bicyclist.

As a Life Member of the L.A.W./B., I am stuck with a freebie sub to
Buycycling until it goes to the great talk show in the sky. (Rodale
Sr. reference.)

American Bicyclist is the correct (current) name for the L.A.B.
magazine. It was quarterly, now it's more frequent. (For some reason
they send me two copies --now there's a way to boost circulation!--
but I'm not getting up to check the stack.) If memory serves, members
requested more publications per year, and they complied.

Now if they'd just bring back the Editor's Scrapbook...compilations
from bike club newsletters and fun stuff from throughout the
country...

--Karen D.
there's a reason I know this

[It's Chris]

From: frkrygow@gmail.com

>Well, it's a matter of taste, I'm sure.
>IMO, it's better largely because there
>wasn't much way for it to get worse.
>They've had a few interesting articles
>lately. But the emphasis is still 90% on
>"Shave 0.002% off your next time trial!!!"
>or "Use these exercises to get sexy
>legs!!!!!" or "THIS is the piece of
>expensive equipment you've GOT to
>buy!!!!!"

>Page 136 of the current issue has "5
>THINGS TO MAKE YOU FASTER"
>(Emphasis theirs). * Total cost? Well
>over $2500. That's for a wheelset, $80
>worth of semi-edible goo, $360 worth of
>clothes (to make you faster!!!), a fancy
>speedometer, and - wait for it - ceramic
>bearings.

>Briefly, the style of cycling they currently
>promote has never, ever appealed to me.
>But, as always, YMMV.

>- Frank Krygowski

My sentiments exactly. I get Adventure Cycling's (BikeCentennial's) mag,
but AFAIC, the last really good commercial publication was Bicycle
Rider.

- -
Compliments of:
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

If you want to E-mail me use:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net

My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner

[Király]

catzz66 <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:
> I subscribe and pass it on to my family to read, but don't rely on it to
> learn anything deep about bikes, only to keep up with what's current. I
> have not really ever found a monthly bike magazine that interests me all
> that much. I'd rather be out riding.

The British mag Cycling Plus is quite good. At least it was last time I
looked at it. Articles about good rides, about how to pack well for
touring, a few arts on the racing circuit, and plenty of just general
good advice for all types of riders.

Problem is, it costs an arm and a leg at the local specialty import
newsstand, if they even have it in.

--
K.

Lang may your lum reek.

[It's Chris]

From: joekhul@yahoo.com (joekhul)

>I wish though that a lot of these groups
>would simply place their subscriptions
>online and you download them as pdf
>files. This way you don't need a
>hardcopy and you can save one or two
>years worth of magazines on one CD
>disk. (And of course they'd be very
>portable this way).

"Greener", too.

- -
Compliments of:
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

If you want to E-mail me use:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net

My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner

[joekhul]

On Apr 29, 4:51*pm, m...@home.spamsucks.ca (Király) wrote:
> catzz66 <nos...@nospam.com> wrote:
> > I subscribe and pass it on to my family to read, but don't rely on it to
> > learn anything deep about bikes, only to keep up with what's current. *I
> > have not really ever found a monthly bikemagazinethat interests me all
> > that much. *I'd rather be out riding.
>
> The British mag Cycling Plus is quite good. *At least it was last time I
> looked at it. *Articles about good rides, about how to pack well for
> touring, a few arts on the racing circuit, and plenty of just general
> good advice for all types of riders.
>
> Problem is, it costs an arm and a leg at the local specialty import
> newsstand, if they even have it in.
>
> --
> K.
>
> Lang may your lum reek.

Thanks for that mention of Cycling Plus. I'll check it out. My local
bookstore carries it though it's out right now, they're awaiting the
next shipment. I'll check out a copy. I'm not big into magazines,
that's why I wish they were online; but it's sometimes nice to have an
informative mag laying about when you want to peruse your favorite
pastime late at nights - especially when they have worthwhile articles.

[Dane Buson]

Jym Dyer <jym@econet.org> wrote:
> =v= They mentioned one of the best rides my group does!
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/jym/2454772800/

Oh my! The shiny, it blinds!

I really do want one of the Bianchi Aquilettas with the intergral rack. I've
seen those before on your webpage, but I've never seen one in the wild. So
cute.

I have zero 'need' for one mind you...

--
Dane Buson - sigdane@unixbigots.org
Today's weirdness is tomorrow's reason why.
-- Hunter S. Thompson

[Dane Buson]

Jym Dyer <jym@econet.org> wrote:
> =v= They mentioned one of the best rides my group does!
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/jym/2454772800/

Oh my! The shiny, it blinds!

I really do want one of the Bianchi Aquilettas with the intergral rack. I've
seen those before on your webpage, but I've never seen one in the wild. So
cute.

I have zero 'need' for one mind you...

--
Dane Buson - sigdane@unixbigots.org
Today's weirdness is tomorrow's reason why.
-- Hunter S. Thompson

[frkrygow@gmail.com]

On May 1, 7:48 am, Veloise <galena3...@mypacks.net> wrote:
>
> American Bicyclist is the correct (current) name for the L.A.B.
> magazine. ...
>
> Now if they'd just bring back the Editor's Scrapbook...compilations
> from bike club newsletters and fun stuff from throughout the
> country...

.... and ditch the "Any bike facility is a good bike facility" agenda!

- Frank Krygowski